FIJI-NEW ZEALAND EXPEDITION 267 
belligerent and adaptive European house sparrow, Passer domes- 
ticus. It is present in some numbers and looks for all the world 
like lowa examples of the species. While its presence is not con- 
fined to the cities it is, I believe, more common there than in the 
country districts. 
Another introduced form which I came upon frequently in and 
about Auckland, in the bush at Rotorua and again in the vicinity 
of Wellington, was the Australian yellow-hammer. This yellow- 
ish, sparrow-like bird is fairly common. 
Among other introduced forms should be mentioned the Europ- 
ean starling (Sturnus vulgaris) the mynah (Acridotheres tristts) 
and the European skylark (Alauda arvensis). The latter was 
found commonly in open, grassy fields about Helensville and 
Onehunga, a suburb of Auckland. Its oft-described, characteristic 
method of rising from the ground and flying in a ecirele uttering 
the while a delicate continuous trill or warble is a never-failing 
source of delight. The only other bird with which it might be 
confused is the native pipit (Anthus nova-zealandiw) which oc- 
curs in the same situations and, with its streaked brownish plu- 
mage and white outer tail feathers, reminds me of our vesper 
sparrow. 
Regarding the further importation of birds into New Zealand, 
Mr. J. G. Myers, a very active member of the Biology Division 
of the Dominion Department of Agriculture, and a gentleman 
whom it is a pleasure to know personally, makes the following 
comment: ‘‘Of the 130 species of foreign birds brought to New 
Zealand by private or official effort, only twenty-six have become 
thoroughly established in any considerable area. Of these, some, 
among which are numbered most of the more destructive species, 
are so nearly ubiquitous that their ultimate survival seems as- 
sured; while others are present in such small numbers, or inhabit 
such restricted areas that, were it not for fresh importations, they 
would probably die out altogether.’”* 
Some time after arriving in New Zealand I went on a three 
days’ collecting trip among the coastal bays and islands near 
Cowe’s Bay, twenty-five miles north of Auckland. As is the ease 
in such situations everywhere within a radius of fifty miles of 
Auckland, the black-fronted tern (Sterna albistriata) is common 
and breeds. Here, too, I encountered another well known and 
3 New Zealand Journal of Science and Technology, VI, No. 1, 40, 1923. 
